New ‘pioneering’ upgrade planned to make travelling to Hill Dickinson Stadium much easier for fans

Everton supporters travelling to the Hill Dickinson Stadium could notice a major change around the surrounding streets next season.

Liverpool City Council have introduced a new smart lighting system designed specifically to improve safety and movement on matchdays.

Streets near Everton stadium get new, innovative lighting

With huge crowds now regularly moving through the waterfront area following the stadium's opening, city authorities are turning towards technology-led solutions to help manage the growing logistical demands around the site.

The ‘pioneering' new system uses smart lighting linked to live traffic‑monitoring sensors, allowing street lights to automatically adjust based on crowd and vehicle density.

The initial rollout covers Great Howard Street and Derby Road — two key routes between the city centre and the stadium.

On busy matchdays, lighting levels will rise to improve visibility for supporters and traffic, while during quieter periods the system will dim to save energy. Projections suggest it could cut consumption by up to 30 per cent over the next decade.

Powered by Signify’s Interact City platform, the technology can also identify faults automatically, reducing reliance on public reporting.

Liverpool City Council says the project responds directly to supporter feedback about safety and movement around the new stadium, and it is already being viewed as a potential model for other cities facing similar crowd‑management challenges.

FGG says: Small changes can make a big difference on matchdays

Smart lighting may not sound as eye-catching as a new stand or transport hub, but for supporters actually travelling to and from games, improvements like this can have a real impact.

One of the biggest challenges with modern stadium developments isn’t just getting fans into the ground, it's safely moving tens of thousands of people through the surrounding streets afterwards.

Improved lighting boosts visibility, helps people feel safer at night and can ease pressure on busy transport routes, particularly in waterfront areas where bottlenecks can quickly form.

If the system performs as intended, it looks like exactly the kind of practical, behind‑the‑scenes infrastructure investment that more stadium districts across the country may start to adopt.